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School Spirit

Football season is officially underway and that means it is prime time for one of my favorite past times! As a BIG fan of college football (Go Terps! 🐢), it is one of the many reasons why Fall is my favorite season! As if the game itself is not enough to get you excited, throwing a well-planned tailgate is the best way to start the day! Here are my tips to kick-off your game day:

Get in the Team Spirit!

Tie in your team colors and symbols to the table, tent, and lawn decor.

Football shaped food and mascot inspired trays or desserts are always a hit!

Make a signature cocktail that ties into your theme or your team, use festive drink stirs, and serve a beer that ties into your team name or is from your team’s state!

Be Inclusive, Not Confrontational

While we all have our favorite teams and love our alma mater, be inclusive of those who may be cheering for the other team. Add a little of their team color or invite them to bring a dish tied to their team.

While a little bit of friendly competition is always fun, avoid getting into arguments or confrontations with fans of the other team. Remember, you are there to have fun – not to “bad mouth” others!

Plan Ahead

Tailgates can range in size from small and simple to large and extravagant (I have seen it all!). No matter what size your tailgate, the following always apply:

Be sure to have an accurate count of how many people will be attending and buy/make your dishes accordingly (aka always make extra). Running out of food and beverages is never a good thing!

Bring plenty of ice for drinks and food. Keep any food that needs refrigerated in coolers and ensure it will stay cold for the duration of the day or else you will have to throw it out (you do not want anyone to get sick).

Label your coolers to avoid confusion.

Remember to bring plenty of trash bags and clean-up as you go.

If you are hosting, make a timeline for your set-up and when you need to start cooking. No one wants to miss kick-off!

Bring chairs for people to take a rest. You do not need enough for every person, but a decent number is always appreciated!